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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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MEMOIR 



JOHN KNILL; 



A LITTLE BOY 



WHO DIED OF THE CHOLERA, 



St. PETERSBURG, 



: 



July 1, 183T s. 






BOSTON. 

PUBLISHED BY PEIRCK AND PAKK£K ; 

No. 9, Cornhill. 

HEW YOR K I — H. C. SLEIGHT, 

Clinton Hall. 

1832. 



3 vs 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1832, by 
Peirce & Parker, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court 
of Massachusetts. 



SJA.f 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



This little book contains an account of a lovely boy 
who was taken very suddenly from his parents during 
the late prevalence of the Cholera in Russia. It was 
sent to this country for publication, and now appears 
with a testimonal to its correctness, and a brief account 
of the well-known and respected author, from an Amer- 
ican resident in St. Petersburg. The account has been 
translated into the German and Russian languages ; but 
from want of means had not been printed. It is hoped 
that the friends of Mr. Knill, and of Sabbath Schools in 
this country will contribute towards the printing and 
circulation of the narrative in Russia, by their favorable 
reception and purchase of it here. The subscriber has 
used his endeavors to dispose of the M. S. so as to se- 
cure the greatest possible benefit to the Author consis- 
tent with its extensive sale. The avails of the Book 
will be sent immediately to Russia, to aid its appear- 
ance in the above mentioned languages. 

N. A. 

Cambridge, June 1, 1832 



A letter from the Rev. Mr. Knill to a 
friend in America inclosing the account 
of his son. 

CSAREPTA HOUSE, 

I St. Petersburg, 13—25 Oct. 1831. 

Dear Christian Friend, 

Our beloved children cannot answer your 
letter for Samuel is not able to write, and John 
and Joseph are in their graves. You know 
what an eventful time we have had ! Thro' 
the tender mercy of our God we are now 
pretty well, and I trust it is our desire to live 
unto Him who raised us up from the bed of 
languishing. 

It has been a great relief to our spirits to 

write a narrative of our dear John. My wife 

has written one part of it and the other part 

of it was written by me. We send you this 

joint epistle — in lieu of a letter from our boys. 
*1 



y 



This narrative is already translated into Ger- 
man and it is now going through a translation 
into Russian. Perhaps we shall be able to 
print it— and thus our child may be the means 
of animating and encouraging Parents — and 
of doing good to children also — and perad ven- 
ture for the turning of some sinners from the 
error of their ways. As far as I know T my own 
heart and the heart of my~ partner, I think I 
can say — we have no desire to live but to ad- 
vance the glory of God — and this was our 
strongest desire for our children. And now 
John is dead, we wish him to speak to our fel- 
low men. 
Farewell, 

Your affectionate 

Richard and Sarah Knill. 



Letter from an American gentleman for- 
merly in St. Petersburg. 

" The Rev. Richard Rnill, father of the 
lovely boy who is the subject of this memorial, 
— was born in Devon in England, and studied 
under the Rev. Dr. Bogue preparatory to go- 
ing as a missionary to India. He went out to 
South Travancore under the patronage of the 
London Missionary Society, — but his health 
became so enfeebled, that the only hope of his 
recovery was in returning to a colder climate, 
and he landed in England about two years 
from his leaving it. A year before this period, 
the Rev. Mr. Swan, who was then on his way 
to the mission in Siberia, was in St Peters 
burg and administered the sacrament for a 
year to the little church which was afterwards 



Vlll 

under Mr. Rnill's charge. Mr Knill was ad- 
vised to try the climate of Russia and the Mis- 
sionary Society engaged him to go to St. Pe- 
tersburg and commence regular pastoral labors 
there. He did not arrive until after Mr. Swan 
had left for Selinginsk in Siberia. The num- 
ber of communicants at St. Petersburg was 
then very small. — but it gradually increased, 
and now. — ten years from its commencement, 
it numbers about sixty living members in addi- 
tion to a number who have removed to other 
parts of the empire and some to other countries. 
Mrs. Knill was born in Russia of English Pa- 
rents. They have had four children — the eld- 
est Julia, named for their greatly beloved friend 
Mrs. Patterson, wife of Dr. Patterson, died very 
suddenly a few years since. She was an un- 
commonly lovely child. John and Joseph 
were taken away by the Cholera within three 
davs of each other. Samuel only now remains. 
He is an interesting child of seven years and the 
hopes of his parents are fixed on him. The 






IX 



writer of this notice was intimately acquainted 
with this interesting family and resided in it 
during the prevalence of the Cholera and fol- 
lowed the lovely children to the tomb. He 
testifies to the peculiarly interesting character 
of little John who was indeed an uncommon 
child and bid fair to be a great blessing to his 
parents. 

The writer thinks that Mr. Knill has been 
rather over-careful in speaking of the religious 
feelings of his son. The mind of this child 
was of quick discernment, and it seems certain 
that he must have had some correct views and 
some most interesting exercises on the subject 
of religion. It is recollected that his appear- 
ance while he was putting the very serious 
question respecting Mrs. Chapman, to his fath- 
er, was that of great thought and solemnity, 
and was more like a youth of fifteen than a 
child of four yeari 'The death of the love- 

ly children madeasad breach in this little fam- 
ily, Rvor since little Julia died, the parents 



always have sung the hymn at their morning 
devotions on Wednesday of each week which 
they had sung on the morning of her death. 
They continued this practice, but it brings too 
vividly to mind the recollection of their beloved 
children, for their peace, although they have 
bowed with resignation to the afflictive stroke 
of death. May that God who binds the bro- 
ken hearts heal their wounds, and make this 
little notice of a beloved child the means of 
good to some who shall read it." 



MEMOIR 



More than fourteen years have rolled 
away since the Cholera has been wasting 
the earth. It first made its appearance 
near Calcutta in the East Indies, from 
whence its fatal influence spread rapidly 
from province to province over the whole of 
that interesting country. It turned near- 
ly every house into a house of mourning, 
and in many every inmate died. The 
rich were not spared, but it raged chiefly 
among the poor. Foreigners, as well as 
natives became its victims — and after it 
had hurried millions to the grave, it trav- 
elled westward to Persia. From Persia 
it crossed the Russian Frontier, and in 



12 MEMOIR OF 

1824 it commenced its ravages in Astra- 
chan. — About the month of July 1830 it 
broke out a second time in Astrachan, 
and in a few weeks carried off several 
thousands of its inhabitants. * The chief 
men of the city died of it! When the 
disease was at its height more than five 
hundred persons died in a day — and so 
difficult was it to procure graves for 
them, that about one thousand bodies 
were buried together in a large pit. 

At the close of the same year, the 
Cholera reached Moscow, and its effects 
produced a dreadful panic on the minds 
of the people. In this season of deep 
distress the emperor of Russia did not 
hesitate to console and aid his afflicted 
subjects; and after continuing with them 
until the malady began to abate, he re- 
turned to St. Petersburg, and was re- 
stored to his anxious and loving family 
in peace. 

When the disease was raging in Mos- 



JOHN KNILL. lo 

cow, great fears wers excited respecting 
it in St. Petersburg, and great prepara- 
tions were made to prevent its entrance, 
or to stop its progress if it came — but no 
symptoms.. of it appeared for many 
months. At last it came ! and an awful 
calamity has it been to multitudes. The 
tears of thousands are still flowing, and 
w 7 ill long flow, over husbands and wives 
and parents and children, who were sud- 
denly snatched from the fond embrace 
of their beloved relatives. Indeed none 
can conceive but those who have felt it, 
what a calamity this disease has been. 

It broke out in St. Petersburg on the 
fourteenth day of June, old style. * In 
the evening of that day it was reported 

* The young reader must ask his parent or teacher, the 
meaning of Old Style. The 14th day of June in Russia is the 
26th day of June in America. If you look at the top of .Air. 
Knill's letter on the 5th page, you will see it dated the I 
ofOctober. The way in which time is reckoned in Ann 
called N iw Style. New Style is It days later than Old Style. 
When Mr. KniH wrote his letter it was the ISth ofOcto 

; by adding 12, h>: found that it ~'Mi day in 

America j therefore he dated bis letter 13 — 25 October 
Cholera therefore broke out the 14—26 day of June, that is . it 
was the 1 4 ill day of the month in Russia and the 26lfa with us. 

Editor. 
2 



14 MEMOIR OF 

that a man belonging to a bark had been 
attacked with Cholera. This was the 
commencement of the malady, and it 
increased at a fearful rate until its rava- 
ges became tremendous. When the dis- 
ease was at its height several hundred 
in a day were attacked, the greater part 
of whom never recovered. By this time 
business of every kind was nearly at a 
stand, and this beautiful city was con- 
verted into one vast hospital, in some 
streets scarcely any thing was seen 
moving, but funeral processions — man 
going to his long home ; and the mourn- 
ers, very few mourners, following their 
friends to the house appointed for all 
living. About the beginning of July 
the number of deaths gradually diminish- 
ed — and at the latter end of that month, 
the disease had nearly disappeared. 

John Knill, the lovely boy whose 
death is here recorded, was three years 
and eleven months old. It will be seen 



JOHN KN1LL. 15 

that the Cholera had been raging in the 
city for several days — but we had no 
fears that oar children would be affect- 
ed with it, for we had been informed 
that it was chiefly confined to adults — 
but painful experience has since taught 
us that it is not confined to sex nor age. 
The prince and the peasant — the man of 
grey hairs and the child of a year old 
have fallen beneath its fatal stroke. 

On the evening preceding his death, 
John retired to rest in his usual health. 
When the Cholera attacked him it 
seemed to seize his heart, and to oppress 
the vitals with increasing violence until 
he expired. His hands and feet almost 
immediately became cold. His spark- 
ling eyes sunk deep into their sockets. 
The pulse nearly ceased, and a peculiar 
degree of languor seized his whole body. 
In this state of exhaustion he looked 
around upon his affectionate mother and 
friends with indescribable tenderness — 



16 MEMOIR OF 

and then amidst our tears, and sighs and 
prayers, and efforts of no common na- 
ture, he ceased to breathe. He ivas at- 
tacked in the morning— died at noon— 
and in the evening ivas carried to his 
grave ! Thus suddenly was this flower 
cut down ! Thus quickly did Death 
execute his commission— Thus in one 
short day all our earthly hopes respecting 
him were blasted ; but we have hopes 
that will flourish forever ! 

His bereaved parents have a thousand 
fond recollections of what he did and 
said, but there are six things, which we 
trust will be beneficial to some who may 
read this short narrative. 

1st. His early co-operation in circu- 
lating the holy scriptures and tracts. 

He was not quite two years old when 

the following circumstance took place. 

*A Glazier was mending my window, 

and John and his brother, and their nurse 

stood by looking at him. While the 






JOHN KNI.LL. 



man was busy at his work, this little boy 
pulled him by the apron and said to him, 
" Brother," the usual salutation among 
Russians— " Brother, can you read ?" 
At first the man took no notice of the 
child, but finding him continue his prat- 
tle he said to the nurse, ■" Does the child 
speak to me ?" " Yes," — " What does 
he want ?" — " Listen to him." The 
child then repeated the question, 
" Brother, can you read ?" " Yes," re- 
plied the man, " Have you a New Tes- 
tament ?" The man answered " No" 
As soon as John found that the Glazier 
had not a Testament, he walked to the 
room in which they were kept, and hav- 
ing obtained one, carried it to him im- 
mediately. The nurse seeing what was 
done remarked, " John, you have not 
done this properly ; you ought to have 
found a verse for the man to read— 
"Yes, yes," said he, and in turn- 
ing over the leaves he pointed to 



* 



2 



18 MEMOIR OF 

that striking passage,-" When thou pray- 
est enter into thy closet, and shut the 
door, and pray to thy Father who is in 
secret, and thy father who seeth in se- 
cret, himself shall reward thee openly." 
Matt. 6: 6. "Well," said the man, 
" this is strange indeed l n 

These .-questions the child frequently 
heard addressed to persons who came 
to our house, but we had no idea of his 
adopting the same plan of his own ac- 
cord. It shews us at what an early age 
children are capable of imitating the ex- 
amples around them : and fathers and 
mothers may learn from it what a tre- 
mendous responsibility it attaches to the 
parental character. 

Since the above period many hun- 
dreds of people have come to our house, 
some for books, others for clothes &c, 
but I do not recollect that ever John 
saw any of these people without ask- 
ing either his mother or myself, " may 



JOHN KNILL 19 

I give that person a tract ? 95 and some- 
times without our knowledge he has 
supplied them. 

Only the day before he died I receiv- 
ed a package of Tracts, in the German 
and French Languages, from the Tract 
Society in London, and one of his last 
acts was to assist his brother in bring- 
ing these tracts to me, to the place 
where I wished to put them. His 
words still sound in my ears, as he 
approached me with his arms full, and 
his face bright with joy, saying, " Here, 
papa, see how many I bring !" 

Parents who read this will, we trust, 
be encouraged to lead their children ear- 
ly into those ways which conduct to 
usefulness as well as happiness. Im- 
pressions made on the minds of children 
are generally deep and lasting. Good 
habits early formed are of immense ad- 
vantage through life. The voice of wis- 
dom says, "train up a child in the way 



20 MEMOIR OF 

he should go, and when he is old he will 
not depart from it." This may he con- 
sidered as a general rule — and daily ob- 
servation confirms it as an interesting 
fact. We wished to be guided by this 
rule in the education of our offspring. 
Our heart's desire for them was that they 
might'be always occupied in diffusing 
the knowledge of God. And now John 
is removed from our feeble instruction 
to a higher school, we are thankful that 
he had begun to do something for the 
good of mankind. 

2ndly. I notice his interesting dream. 

It is difficult to determine the nature 
of dreams — to describe exactly how the 
mind can be engaged in travelling, con- 
versing, fighting, reading, preaching, 
praying and the like, when the senses 
are locked up in sleep ; but so it is, and 
it w r ill generally be found that dreams 
are an index of the heart. " Filthy 
dreamers," as the Apostle calls them, 



JOHN KNILL 21 

are generally those whose hearts when 
awake delight in iniquity : w T hile on the 
other hand, the man who dreams of 
heaven, and the advancement of Christ's 
kingdom, and other sacred subjects, is 
the man whose waking hours are spent 
in communion with God. No doubt 
there are exceptions to this general rule. 
Perhaps "the evil one" has much influ- 
ence on the minds of men when they 
are asleep— but if ever a good thought 
comes into our minds whether asleep or 
awake, we must give God the praise. 
" If a dream suggest a profitable hint we 
should receive it with gratitude. As- 
suredly, were our hearts more holy, 
both our waking and sleeping thoughts 
would be more heavenly." 

Our little boy was just three years 
old, when we heard him speaking in his 
sleep. Of course we were anxious to 
discover what was the subject of conver- 
sation, and to our astonishment he re- 



22 MEMOIR OF 

peated with uncommon emphasis these 
beautiful lines, 

" What shall I render to my God," 

" For all his gifts to me ?" 

He had not been taught these lines, 
but his mother had been teaching them 
to his elder brother, a Few days before, 
when he heard them, and treasured them 
up in his retentive memory, and now 
they were occupying his sleeping hours. 
O how sweet is the reflection that he nev- 
er learned any thing from us, to our know- 
lege, which we should be ashamed to 
have him repeat before the Judgment- 
seat of Christ, — and how favored is the 
lot of those dear children who can say 

" While others early learn to swear, 
" And curse and lie and steal ; 
".Lord. I am taught thy name to fear, 
" And do thy holy will."* 

* I have leave to mention a pleasing- anecdote similar to this, 
of another voung person who also had great desires for the con- 
version of sinners. He was taken sick sometime after he was 
thought to have become a- Christian. His mother, at night, 
left a cane near his bed, and told him to knock, if he waked.and 
needed any thing'. In the night the mother heard a loud knock- 
ing, and hastened to his chamber, but her son was asleep though 
the cane was in his hand, and he still continued knocking. At 
last he cried out in his sleep, " X can't make sinners hear !" 

Editor. 



JOHN KNILL. 23 

Many dear children who will read 
these lines are blessed with pious pa- 
rents whose chief desire is to train them 
for heaven. O children ! do not disap- 
point their fond affections. 

3dly. I shall state his manner of giv- 
ing reproofs, 

John was very playful and npisy, 
while his disposition was exceedingly 
sweet — though resolute and determined. 
He had two brothers, one younger and 
the other older. To his younger broth- 
er he would readily yield up any thing 
and say, " O Joseph ! he is only a baby, 
he must have it 57 — but with his elder 
brother there was frequently an argu- 
ment respecting their playthings — and 
when John thought his brother was 
wrong, he would say very gravely, "Ah 
Samuel ! God does not love that — Christ 
(Iocs not love that.^ 

Every morning when they came to 
breakfast table, they repeated the com- 



24 MEMOIR OF 

mandment, " Honor thy father and 
mother that thy days may he long in the 
Land which the Lord thy God giveth 
thee, 55 — and when they perceived any 
thing in each others conduct which was 
contrary to this command, they would 
frequently remind each other by saying 
" Honor thy father and thy mother. 55 

It is a solemn thought that almost ev- 
ery action of some men's lives is dis- 
pleasing to God. Had these persons a 
a kind and faithful monitor near therp, 
he would say to them a thousand times 
in a day, " Ah Sir ! God does not love 
that. Ah Madam ! Christ does not love 
that. 55 And is it not dreadful to live a 
life of constant rebellion against our 
Creator and Redeemer ! Dear Reader, 
try yourself by this touchstone. Ask 
yourself often, " will God be pleased with 
this part of my conduct? — w r ili Christ ap- 
prove this conversation? Shall I be able 
to £;ive a ^ood account of this act before 



JOHN KNILL. 25 

the Judgment-seat ?" — and if conscience 
says "no"— -if your Bible says "no" 
then reject it. Put it away from you. 
Flee from it as from a serpent. The 
Plague is dreadful, but sinning against 
God is much more dreadful ; for that 
will ruin both body and soul. Hear the 
words of the Saviour on this point, " I 
say unto you ray friends, be not afraid 
of them that can kill the body, and after 
that have no more that they can do— - 
but I will forwarn jou whom you shall 
fear — fear him who after he hath killed 
hath pow 7 er to cast into hell, yea I say 
unto you fear Him !" 

4th. This little boy was remarkable 
for his tenderness to animals. 

Two instances of this shall suffice. 
During the last winter a servant was 
putting the housedog into the snow, and 
trying to cover it over. John looked 
through the window and saw it, and be- 
came quite agitated. He immediately 
3 



26 MEMOIR OF 

ran to his mother exclaiming " Mamma! 
Eupheme will kill the dog, come and 
prevent it. ?? He then returned to the 
window watching the process, and ap- 
peared ready to faint. His mother in- 
terposed and liberated the dog, and now 
the joy of the child was as great as his 
previous grief. 

A few days before his death he was 
walking on the wharf with his brothers 
when he saw a man beating his horse 
with great cruelty. They were near 
the watchbox— and John leaving his 
companions ran to the watchman and 
said " Please to look at that naughty man 
—seize him and take him to the watch- 
house. A man who beats his horse so, 
ought not to have a horse. 5 '— These 
were fine feelings for a child, and such 
as every one ought to cultivate. We 
have seen young people inclined to be 
very hard-hearted to animals, but we 
hope that henceforth it will not be so— 



JOHN KNILL. 27 

but that the example of John Knill will 
be a profitable lesson to them and that 
tenderness to animals, will make a strik- 
ing feature of their remaining lives. 

5th. We notice his observations re- 
specting a departed Christian. 

Mrs. Chapman died four days before 
this dear child. She was formerly the 
Mistress of a Lancasterian School in 
Canada. About three years since she 
came to St. Petersburg to take charge 
of a school on the same system, in which 
she gave great satisfaction. Her heart 
was much set on doing good to the chil- 
dren of her charge, and we hoped that 
she would lon° be spared to be a bless- 
ing in her important sphere— but on Fri- 
day the 26th of June, old style, she was 
attacked with Cholera— -a fatal day in 
St. Petersburg— for among the hun- 
dreds of persons who were this day 
attacked, it is supposed that a very few 
recovered. She struggled until four ihe 
next morning, and then entered into the 



28 MEMOIR OF 

joy of her Lord. She left a delightful 
testimony to the love and faithfulness of 
God. Her Saviour was very precious 
to her. His rod and his staff comforted 
her. In the evening of the same day 
she was buried in the ground appointed 
expressly for those who died of Cholera 
— and my dear little boy was afterwards 
placed w r ith her in the same grave. 

J mentioned some particulars respect- 
ing this pious woman to my family. 
John listened — and after pausing some- 
time, he said to me, '" Papa, is Mrs. 
Chapman dead ?" yes, my dear. " Then 
she is gone to heaven, Papa." Yes— 
" Then she is with Christ, Papa."— yes 
my dear. " O ! that is very good."— 
These were delightful observations for a 
child under four years of age— yet I 
have no idea that he knew any thing 
about the nature of religion. * He fro- 

* See the letter prefixed to the Memoirs on the 9th page. It 
is probable that the reader will form a different opinion from 
that here expressed by Mr. Knill. Ed. 



JOHN KNILL. 29 

quently made striking remarks to his 
mother, and to his pious nurse, and 
sometimes he came and clasped me 
round the neck and said, " Papa, / love 
God. I love Christ"— and would then 
walk off singing " Lord in the morning 
ihou shalt hear, my voice ascending 
high, 3 '— but these things I consider 
merely as good habits— the seeds, which 
by the grace of God would have sprung 
up, if he had lived ; but he knew noth- 
ing of man being a sinner, and Christ 
being the only Saviour. He could not 
comprehend it. I have heard and read 
of children of his age who appeared to 
possess religion, but I believe my child 
knew nothing about it. The observa- 
tions I have made, are to show how far 
good teaching, and good example will 
go, to form good habits, and good modes 
of thinking in a child— and I pray that 
every Parent who may read this, may 
feel a fresh inducement to sow good 
*3 



seed in the minds oX ring, 

be; soil is pre-occupied. 

Parents I remember, that to instill one 
good thought— -to produce one ^ood de- 
sire, in the heart of your child, is infi- 
nitelv more important than the discovery 
of a gold mine. Xo mortal can <; 
ceive what blessings may flow from it. 
both in this world, and in that which is 
to come ! 

The last thing I shall notice 
ing this dear child is the gracious Prov- 
idence of God over-ruling the solemn 
events ol his death, for a peculiar bless 
ing to a young man who witnessed his 
agonies. 

The evening before he died we had 
two friends with us. one from America, 
and a young friend from England.-— On 
retiring to rest. John came and embrac- 
ed his American friend, and with a lovely 
smile said. ,% Good night my dearest Mr. 
— :" and he shook hands with our other 






JOHN KNILL. 31 

friend. They never saw him again un- 
til he was seized. When the alarm was 
given that he was attacked with Chol- 
era, we were watching around the bed 
of his brother Joseph who had been dy- 
ing all the preceding night— but now 
the necessities of John called for every 
help that could be given him— therefore 
I Was left with the dving child, to mois- 
ten his parched lips, while his mother 
and the servants hastened to John. 

Our young friend perceiving the child 
in great distress, sat down by his bed- 
side, and for sometime assisted in rub- 
bing his hands; then he ran to the 
Apothecary's for medicine— but on his 
return he found that medicine could be 
of no service— the spasms had ceased— 
the sufferings were over— the heart no 
longer palpitated, the spirit of our child 
was gone ! 

The suddenness of his death produced 
amazement and alarm. The scene was 



32 MEMOIR or 

truly awful. The shock which it gave 
to every one of us cannot be described. 
At this moment our young friend return- 
ed, and so deeply impressed was he with 
what he saw, that he entered his closet 
and shut the door, and cried unto that 
God and Saviour whose redeeming love 
and mercy, he had never truly sought 
before. 1 quote his own words, which 
he spake to me almost the last time I ever 
saw him. " Ah Sir ! the dav on which 
your John died, will ever be a memor- 
able day to me- It will form a new 
era in my existence. I shall look back 
to it at the time w 7 hen I became truly 
in earnest about my soul. I had often 
seen the importance of religion before, 
but then I felt the absolute need of it. 
I have been brought up with religious 
people, and have read, and seen and 
heard much on religious subjects — but/ 
never felt it before. This was penetrat- 
ing w 7 ork. Indeed I was greatly afraid. 



JOHN KNILL. 33 

1 thoughtitnotimprobable but that I may 
be rut off as suddenly as John, and then 
what will be the consequence ! where 
shall I appear? I have no hope. I 
must trifle no longer. I then sought 
retirement. I went into your study, 
and there remained for about two hours, 
and I trust I was sincere in seeking mer- 
cy -of the Lord, and in yielding up my- 
self to be his servant forever." 

O the depth of the riches, both of the 
wisdom and knowledge of God ! How 
unsearchable are his judgments, and his 
ways past finding out ! Our child had 
been the subject of our constant prayers, 
but we never once implored riches, or 
honors, or earthly glory for him. Our 
pjrayer was, that like another John, he 
might " be great in the sight of the 
J, ord— and turn many of the disobedi- 
ent to the wisdom of the just" — and such 
is our conviction of ///< worth of souls 
that we should have considered it an 



34 MEMOIR OF 

unspeakable privilege, if after a long 
life of arduous toil, he had been the 
instrument of bringing one sinner to 
Jesus. O then, what a consolation to 
our wounded spirits to be permitted to 
hope that this work so glorious— a sinner 
brought to Jesus— was in a way hasten- 
ed by his early death, To God be the 
glory forever ! 

It is a very alarming circumstance 
that vast multitudes live day after day 
like the young man just mentioned— 
without paying any regard to their souls; 
and though conscious that this important 
point is neglected, yet still go on pro- 
crastinating, until it is too late. Dread- 
ful infatuation ! Perhaps some persons, 
both young and old, may read these pa- 
ges, who are precisely in this state— 
they are not prepared to meet their 
Judge— they know not the blessedness 
of the man whose sins are pardoned— 
they are not justified by faith, and con- 



JOHN KNJLL. 35 

sequently have not obtained peace with 
God, through Jesus Christ our Lord — 
and can there be a case more alarming 
than this ! 

Dear Reader ! Suppose that in this 
unprepared state you should be seized 
with some affliction, which should bring 
you suddenly to the grave. 

what consequences must follow! — 
when Infants or young children die, we 
know that they are happy, for "of such 
is the kingdom of God."— But when a 
man or woman dies, the case is very dif- 
erent; we look for evidence of repen- 
tance, and faith, before we can entertain 
hope respecting them— and where would 
you appear ? 

Ah ! you would be left without a 
friend— without remedy, without hope. 

Listen then, O listen to the voice 
of friendship. — Delay not another mo- 
ment.— Let the great work of religion 
from this day become the grand business 



36 MEMOIR OF JOHN KNILL. 

of your Me— 'Salvation you must obtain 
or you anil perish. Salvation is offered 
to you freely. Jesus Christ came into 
the world to save sinners. He casts 
out none who come to him. 

O then study the character and the 
work of Christ. — Behold the neccessity, 
and the suitableness of his atonement I 
—Embrace this adorable Saviour— Be- 
lieve on him and you shall be saved. 

Finally, I beseech you, do not put 
off the momentous concerns of eternity 
until vou are attacked with disease-— 
you will have no time then ! 

Therefore " let your loins be girded, 
and your lights burning, and ye your- 
selves like unto men who wait for their 
Lord, that when he Cometh and knock- 
eth, they may open to him immediately. 
Blessed are those servants, whom the 
Lord when he cometh shall find watch- 
ing!! 57 

THE END* 






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